镍与不锈钢日评20251205：修复后区间震荡-20251205

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the content 2. Core Views of the Report - On December 4, the main nickel contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fluctuated within a range. With a weak nickel fundamental and inventory pressure, along with the repeated expectations of the Fed's interest - rate cuts, after the price recovered from a low level, nickel prices are expected to fluctuate within a range. The trading strategy is to wait and see [1][2]. - On December 4, the main stainless - steel contract also fluctuated within a range. Given the loose fundamentals and weakening cost support, stainless - steel prices are expected to fluctuate weakly. The trading strategy is to short on rallies [2]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Nickel Market Futures Market - On December 4, the closing prices of Shanghai nickel futures contracts generally decreased. For example, the closing price of the near - month contract was 117,600 yuan/ton, down 260 yuan from the previous day. The trading volume of Shanghai nickel futures was 103,322 lots, a decrease of 9,126 lots, and the open interest of the active contract decreased by 577 lots [2]. - The inventory of Shanghai nickel futures increased, with the inventory on December 4 being 32,595 tons, an increase of 2,501 tons from the previous day [2]. Spot Market - The average price of SMM 1 electrolytic nickel increased by 400 yuan compared to the previous day. The basis (spot - to - futures) widened, with the basis of SMM 1 electrolytic nickel average price minus the closing price of the active nickel futures contract being 2,130 yuan on December 4 [2]. Supply and Demand - Supply side: Nickel ore prices remained flat. The arrival volume of nickel ore at ports increased last week, and port inventories decreased. The loss of nickel - iron plants deepened, with domestic and Indonesian nickel - iron production schedules decreasing in December. The domestic electrolytic nickel production schedule increased in December, and the loss of electrolytic nickel imports narrowed [2]. - Demand side: Ternary material production decreased; stainless - steel plant production schedules decreased; alloy and electroplating demand remained stable [2]. Inventory - The inventory of the Shanghai Futures Exchange, LME, and social inventory increased, while the bonded - area inventory decreased [2]. Stainless - Steel Market Futures Market - On December 4, the main stainless - steel contract fluctuated within a range. The trading volume was 84,742 lots, an increase of 4,381 lots, and the open interest decreased by 871 lots [2]. - The inventory of stainless - steel futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange decreased, with the inventory on December 4 being 62,157 tons, a decrease of 180 tons from the previous day [2]. Spot Market - Spot market trading was weak, and the basis premium widened. For example, the basis of the average price of 304/2B coil - cut edge (Wuxi) minus the active contract price was 775 yuan on December 4 [2]. Supply and Demand - Supply side: Stainless - steel production decreased in December, and the production schedule of the 300 - series stainless - steel decreased [2]. - Demand side: Terminal demand was weak [2]. Cost - The price of high - grade nickel pig iron decreased, while the price of high - carbon ferrochrome remained flat [2]. Industry News - After the EU officially issued the new battery passport policy, the Indonesian nickel industry has once again become the focus. The full implementation of the policy is scheduled for February 2027. The preparation levels of Indonesian nickel producers vary, and the real challenge lies with producers in the early stage of development [2].